Edward godfrey stevens



(No Model.)

B. G. STEVENS. BOX 0R CRATE.

No 598.121. Patented Feb. 1, 1898.

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BOX OR CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,121, dated February 1, 1898.

Application filed March Z9, 1897.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD GODFREY STEVENS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes or Crates, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the ac companying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to that class of boxes or crates which are adapted to be collapsed or folded; and it has for its object to provide, a simple and improved knockdown. box or crate which will possess advantages in point of inexpensiveness, ease of operatiomdurability, effectiveness, and general efficiency.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of the improved box embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional View. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the body of the box in folded or collapsed position. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the hinged joints.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the bottom portion of the box, which is provided with upwardlyprojecting side and end flanges a and a, respectively.

The body B of the box is formed by front and rear side pieces I) and 12 respectively, which respectively carry end pieces I) and Z1 the latter being hinged to their respective side members,preferably by means of a pasted strip, as shown at c. A partition B may also be hinged to the wall 15 as at c, and the outer edge thereof will rest against the strip 0 on the opposite wall of the box when the same is set up, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings. The sides band b are respectively hinged to the front and rear flanges a a of the bottom portion by means of wire hinges D, embodying an outer cross-piece d, from the ends of which project inwardly bowed or curved arms d d, passing through eyes or openings 6 in the bottom flanges and sides, as shown, and having their inner ends turned, as at (i to form bearing-points against the inner face of the hinged sides.

The members of the box are preferably constructed of pasteboard, and the eyes or openings (2 may be eyeleted, as shown, to proserin No. 629,660. (No model.)

tect them against wear or tearing in the operation of the hinges.

In practice, when the sides and ends of the box are in normal raised position, the ends may be turned inwardly upon their hinges 0 against their respective sides, and the sides may then be folded downwardly one upon the other upon their loose hinges D within the flanges of the bottom A, as shown in Fig. 3, thus insuring a compact flat condition, and when thus folded an ordinary flanged top or cover F may be applied to inclose the folded body and bottom portion of the box. The same cover may also be employed to close the box when the sides are in normal upright position, as shown in Fig. 2.

To retain the sides and ends of the box in open upright position, a rectangular wire frame G, adapted to approximately fit the inside of the box, has one of its long arms g hinged to the inner face of the side I), at the top, preferably-by means of a pasted strip h. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) The side arms g g of this frame bear against the ends 19 and 5 while the long arm 9 at the free end of the wire frame is adapted to engage hook devices I, preferably formed of wire bails projecting from the inside of the side b and bears against the latter. This outer long arm g is preferably curved or bowed, as shown in Fig. 1, so that when released from engagement with the hook devices I it will be reduced in its projecting size and when folded downwardly upon its hinge it against the side Z) it will not interfere with the folding operation of the sides and ends.

When myimproved box is used for containing perishable matter-such as fruits,berries, or the like-I prefer to provide openings or perforations 7c in the ends or sides, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which openings maybe eyeleted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A collapsible box or crate, comprising the bottom provided with the upwardly-projecting edge flanges, the sides hinged to said flanges by wire-hinged pieces passing through eyes or openings in the parts, the ends respectively hinged at their edges to the respective loo sides, interiorly-projecting catches or books provided upon one of the sides, and a Wire frame approximately conforming to the interior orthe' box and hinged at the top'of the other side, the free end of said frame being I and provided with projecting ends or points at the inner ends of said curved arms, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two Witnesses, this 26th day' of March, 1897.

EDWARD GODFREY STEVENS.

Witnesses:

O. SEDG-WIOK, B. MoCoMB. 

